Barriers; Survival, Water

Water

(Story takes place a couple of months before Barriers)

Ok, I don't have much time here. Crow's onto me, and I have to leave, now.

Except, how the hell am I going to leave with Survey as my sister?

Oh yeah, if you don't know I have a security unit as a sister.

Great.

And, worst part is, she's older than me. Two years, to be exact. I'm sick of Crow's tyranny. He's insane, and does a terrible job of taking care of his citizens.

I'm Water, and this is how I will escape.

***

"ARE. YOU. KIDDING ME?!" Survey screamed into her

walkie-talkie, "FIVE MINUTES. FIVE, FREAKING MINUTES AND HE ALREADY ESCAPED?!"

She was dealing with Wolf, an apprentice she was currently training. And so far, Wolf seemed to be doing a pretty crappy job.

But, then again, Survey always acts like an angry seagull.

I should know, I've lived with her my whole life.

Twenty nine. Years.

And I'm done. Twenty nine years TOO LONG.

My friend Glass is helping me out, planning good routes. I mapped out the area, told him to make a copy of it with the routes drawn on it. He can keep the original, since I won't come back. I asked him if he wanted to tag along, he said that he was going to escape with his son, Camera, so whatever. Less upkeep I guess. Now, the distance between the Low city and the wall is far, but not as far as you think. When Camera was fourteen, he said that the distance was insane(because I had asked him, Glass and I agreed to keep our plans secret) and boy, does that kid exaggerate. He probably doesn't remember me though. I'm not really memorable, and that's the perfect way to go when you're escaping. I mean, yeah no one will remember if you die, but who cares? The only person that bothered to stick around was Glass. And for that, I thank him. I owe him my life.

That not being the point, I was getting ready to meet with him for the routes.

As I was headed for the door of our rustic house, my mother abruptly stood up from her whittling and asked me, "Honey, it's past Curfew!" It was noon. I have crazy parents and an assassin for a sister. All the more reason to GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE.

"Listen, it's noon." Without a second glance, I shoved the door open and walked out into the boiling heat.

It is very, VERY hot where I live. The outskirts of Crow's domain are dead. It's like being in a huge oven, and being as pale as I am it doesn't help at all.

A long time ago my ancestors traveled from whoever was ruling Fox's domain to Crow's(back then it wasn't Crow who was ruling the domain, he's not that old) looking for a better life. And I guess it was ok here back then. But Crow wasn't alive back then, so I can see why it was better.

I arrived at Glass's alley, and saw him putting things on shelves and tables.

He turned to me, "Hey, I'm surprised you haven't evaporated in this heat yet, Water," Glass said, punching me in the shoulder.

"Hey, I'm surprised Survey hasn't shattered you yet," that was our joke. We've been the dynamic duo ever since, well ever since I was five, at least.

Survey hates every single Low except for me, but she just hates me less. 'Every single Low' includes Glass and his son. And his son's friends, their friends, their friends' friends...